A pleasant round in the valley

I try to focus on rural nine-hole courses in this space. Last fall, while closing down the cottage at Pelican Lake, the weather was almost summer-like – 20 degrees, clear skies, and no wind. A call for a break from closing-up duty led me to one of my two favourite childhood golf courses (the first being Roland).

While playing, I noticed that holes 4 and 5 had had some recent modifications – which is a good excuse to write about the course. So, at the south end of Pelican Lake lies Pleasant Valley Golf Club.

The club is surrounded by a busy cottage area. There is a small clubhouse and restaurant, and a small driving net to warm up in. There is a large practice green, and a very large fleet of motorized golf carts. This impressive fleet allows the club to host many tournaments throughout the season. In 2009, Pleasant Valley course was being picked as one of Canada’s best public courses by Score magazine.

These days, Pleasant Valley is an 18-hole course, having expanded into the valley face decades ago. The back nine is a story in its own right, but the first nine still draws players from all over Manitoba for folks wanting challenging play. Today, I will discuss just the front nine.

Unlike the back nine, the front links are built on the valley floor and therefore relatively flat. One green and tee require some hill walking, but nothing like the back half. Without elevation changes, the course needs to offer other characteristics to challenge players. At Pleasant Valley, these characteristics are mostly water, water, and water.

Yes, there are definitely plenty of trees and bushes purposely placed on many holes to force players into applying certain tactics, but what really makes this course stand out from others are its water hazards. A channel, coming off the storied Pembina River, runs throughout the course and causes players frequent issues. In fact, there are only two holes on the front where water is not an obvious challenge. The hazards, however, lend to the beauty of the well-maintained and picturesque holes. One challenge you will not face on the front nine is sand. Those features are all on the back nine.

Hole 1 is a nice, open, flat start to your game. You may even think there’s no big deal when you hit your second shot here on this par 4. But that may lead you into trouble, as the green is surrounded by a depression on two sides, filled with water. It’s heavily protected by trees on either side, and the green has many slopes that may direct your ball right off the dance floor if not plunked properly. Hole 2 is a long par 3, and yes, there is water on the right. Don’t use the big stick, as over-driving the green will lead you to explaining why you’re in a cottager’s front yard. Hole 3 is also a par 3, and. although shorter, it seems someone purposely planted trees and bushes on this fairway in a devious, pinball-game layout.

Hole 4 is one of Pleasant Valley’s most recently modified holes. In the summer of 2024, the familiar par 4 that hugged the river on the left was lengthened into a par 5 that mostly takes the water out of play. The old green was huge, and it was anything but flat. The new green isn’t overly flat, but nothing as undulating as the original. Easier to putt? Yes. As much fun? Opinions differ. In any case, this new par 5 lengthens the out-par from 36 to 37.

Hole 5 is likely the offering many would pick for Pleasant Valley’s signature hole. It starts off with a very narrow channel of fairway, and 100 yards down it opens up nicely. If you look closely, there is a bald spot on the valley wall behind the green, and Hollywood-style white “PV” letters are visible. There is also a repurposed grain silo here, which is used alternately as a snack stop or a weather shelter. This hole has seen many changes over the decades, and I think it gets better and better.

Hole 6 is frustrating. The safe way to attack this par 4 is hit it over the river to the left; from there, you can see the green to the right. From the tee, you cannot see the green; it is behind many bushes and two water hazards. Looking at the yardage, 280 from the white markers, you may feel the temptation to go for it. Please, manage your expectations, or take lots of extra balls.

Seven is a doable par 4, if one can hit straight. Left hitters will be swimming in the lateral water hazard, and right hitters will contend with many, many trees. Hole 8 was the original par 5 of the front nine, and the challenge here is the first shot. You are hitting through tree after tree for the first 150 yards. If you can get past these, the fairway is wide and long. Second shots are no problem, but the third… To reach the 8th green, you need to clear a huge water hazard across the fairway 100 yards from the hole, then carry the green’s 40 feet of elevation.

The only ‘official’ dogleg on the front is No. 9. You tee off 60 feet above the green, through a very narrow initial fairway of trees, trying to get your ball far enough out to avoid the thick brush on the left. When your time on the green is done, you need to bang the gong (a plate from an old disc harrow) to tell those on the tee they are safe to hit. Yardage is listed at 280, so, again, some of the braver souls among us may try to hit the green from the tee here. Remember the advice about bringing extra balls?

This course is very busy, especially in July and August, so calling ahead is sound. To find it, drive south of Belmont, Man., and look for the turnoff. They can be reached at 204-537-2487. Visit www.pleasantvalleygolfclub.ca for more information.